A study by PRC Director Kevin Volpp, MD, PhD, and other health behavior researchers at the University of Pennsylvania shows that financial incentives for increasing physical activity are highly effective among the population of overweight and obese.

“Most workplace wellness programs typically offer the reward after the goal is achieved,” said senior author Kevin G. Volpp, MD, PhD. “Our findings demonstrate that the potential of losing a reward is a more powerful motivator and adds important knowledge to our understanding of how to use financial incentives to encourage employee participation in wellness programs.”

Q & A Spotlight

Nicotine is addictive; as long as there's a sufficient amount of nicotine in the cigarette to sustain addiction, it's not less harmful. And, reduced nicotine does not mean reduced toxins. There are over 4000 compounds in cigarettes; 81 of which are known carcinogens and others that contribute to smoking-related diseases. What our research shows is that the amount of nicotine reduction in the cigarette affects behavior and exposure. Identifying a nicotine threshold, however, requires more research.

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